HC Deb 08 February 1977 vol 925 cc632-4W
56. Mr. Durant

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a list of those groups of people who will be worse off under the Child Benefit Scheme than under earlier proposals.

Mr. Orme

The announcement my right hon. Friend made on 23rd September and which was circulated in theOfficial Report on 26th October 1976, that the full child benefit scheme would be phased in over three years, had no effect on the level of child benefit for April 1977, which remains as he announced in his statement to the House on 25th May. The decision to reduce CTAs generally instead of levying tax and clawback on the benefit actually received leaves the great majority of families in the same position as under the earlier proposals; but some individuals may be worse off depending on their particular circumstances: the person who has the child tax allowance may not have title to child benefit. But this kind of effect is inevitable in a major reform of the structure of family support and would have occurred whenever and however the switch from child tax allowances to child benefit was made.—[Vol. 918, c. 112–14; Vol. 912, c. 284–97.]

Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications have been received at the latest date for child benefit for the first child in two-parent families.

Mr. Orme

Up to the 31st January almost exactly 2 million claims had been received in respect of families with only one qualifying child. In addition, payment for the first child in over 4 million family allowance families will be made without a formal claim either by including the extra £1 in renewal order books or by the overstamping of existing books in our local offices this month. These figures cover both one- and two-parent families and cannot be broken down between them.

Mr. Newton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of public confusion about the proposed child benefits, he will publish in the Official Report a clear summary of his present intentions for each stage of the scheme's introduction, including his proposals for treatment of students, children resident overseas, and families whose income might be adversely affected; and what action is required of members of the public with children.

Mr. Orme

The Government's proposals for phasing in the child benefit scheme and the more detailed arrangements for April 1977 were made quite clear in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) on 26th October, and the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall) on 16th November and to my hon. Friend the tMember for Newport (Mr. Hughes) on 14th December. I cannot now anticipate the detailed arrangements for 1978 and 1979. Unlike the position under family allowance, it will always be to the advantage of those entitled to child benefit to claim it. Any one who has not yet claimed but, not being in receipt of family allowances, needs to do so, should claim as soon as possible.—[Vol. 918, c.112–14; Vol. 919, c. 501–6; Vol. 922, c. 643–4.]